Laying the framing base plate
Once the concrete foundation was cured, the bracing removed, and the waterproofing finished, it was time to lay the base plate. We positioned the plate along the foundation and drilled holes in the wood wherever the rebar came through.
After that, we laid out the floor joists and the rim board. Since we moved this cabin from its old location, we were able to reuse some sections of the original floor joists, which made installation much easier.
Because this is a post and beam construction, we also started installing the main floor vertical posts — the core structure that gives this type of build its distinctive look and strength.
Framing a Post and Bream Cabin
We constructed the cabin in stages, starting with the vertical posts and then adding the horizontal beams. This method makes the build feel very tangible — each piece brings the structure more to life.
We were able to take apart the loft in one piece, and install it back again in one piece. We saved time by not taking this piece apart, but it was incredibly heavy and awkward to get the loft pieces up and in place. However, we were able to do it just with Tony, me, and some of the kids.
Continue Post and Beam Framing
One of the best parts of post and beam framing is how quickly the cabin starts to take shape. The vertical posts rest on top of the beams according to the plan, and each new section gives a satisfying sense of progress.
Tony and I worked in stages — adding each piece, bracing it, then lifting beams and posts higher and higher. Looking back, I can’t quite believe we did it just the two of us! The beams were heavy and I”m a little bit afraid of heights.
Subfloor
Once the post and beam framing was complete, we added the plywood subfloor. To prevent squeaks, we glued the plywood to the floor joists with PL Premium and screwed it down every 6–8 inches.
This step finished off first part of the main structural framing, creating a solid base for the next phase of our tiny post and beam cabin build. The next phase I will share about starting to close in the cabin, and adding the roof trusses.
New Drilled Well
At the same time that we were working on the post and beam framing, we hired a contractor to install a new well. When we bought the lot, it did have a well, but it was too close to where we wanted to build and we weren’t sure the water was any good. Turns out, the well driller hit an artesian well and we had so much water it just poured out of the top. I will share how we solved this problem later.
Dock
Around that same time we also installed a dock, and we were able to enjoy many beautiful sunsets while we built our waterfront cabin.
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